rehimself,too.intheend,heallowshimselfalittlebitofhoy.

“no.notreally.”

andnarissanods,doesn’toffermeaninglesswordsofomfort,justtheuandingoftherealitythatheisnotokay.

harrylooksather,too,atthedarkspotsunderhereyes.“areyoualright?”

narissagiveshimawrysmile.“no.notreally.”

andatone,harryanseeit,theweightonhershoulders:herhusbandforeverlostinazkaban,leavingherwithamultitudeofsins,aruinedname,andataintedhomethatonehostedamadman.herson,theonlyremainingloveofherlife,lostwithinhisownmind.

narissasighs,slowandheavy.“summeristhehostofmanyoasionsbetweenfamiliesandanizationsofpower.ihavetriedtobepresentineahandeveryoneofthem,butit’sbeen…diffiultsinedraoreturned.”

“oasions?”harryasks,thinkingofthemanyfanyinvitationsthathe’sthrowninthetrashinthepastthreemonths.“youmeanparties?”

“yes,”narissanods,andthenshehukles.“someofthoseyou’vedelinedtoattend,ibelieve.”

harrygivesasmall,uantgrin.

narissaontinues.“itisamustthatiremainvisibletootherpurebloodfamilies.ofourse,thewizardingworldknowsofwhatpartthemalfoyfamilyhaspyedinthewar,butweannotletthatforeusintohiding.therearethosewhoarewaitingfortheopportunitytogainallthatwehaveyettolose.”shegnesatdraowistfully.“wemayhavedonebadthings,harry,butmysondoesn’tdeservetobestrippedofeverythingheeverwasandhad.”

sheturnsbaktohim.“it’sbeenabittiringtoattendsomanyfuntions.idislikeleavingdraoalone,espeiallyasheisrightnow.”